Tag Archives: United States

Unfortunately I am still sick. I am so willing to listen to any brilliant ideas that anyone has about how I am supposed to wake up tomorrow and not have a sore throat. I can’t believe how tenacious this freakin’ cold has been. I’m actually getting a little, (a lot), scared. I have never in my life had a cold hang on so hard. Maybe. it’s because I am getting older, I don’t know. I got sick last year and was in and out of the hospital 4 times and they inundated my body with antibiotics and I really don;t want to go there. So, I am trying OJ, Nyquil and a variety of other home remedies. If anyone has ideas I am open. I am going to have to go lay down now because my head is congested and I am tired. I know I said somethings about Mexicans that some of you may not have liked, but I am just speaking what I know. You can do a Vin Diagram on it, if you like, chances are, if the Vin Diagram fits, it’s probably true. Peace my friends, I’ll catch you on the flip side….

“Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church and State.” Thomas Jefferson

I usually don’t have a lot to say about politics, but for once I am going to speak my opinion because it is an issue that bothers me deeply as a woman and as a Buddhist. I have difficulty in believing that Mitt Romney could even begin to keep church and state separate. I have spent my life around Mormons, my mother and my grandmother are both LDS, and I know first hand that Mormons are zealots and Mormonism strikes me as being almost cult like. Now I know I am going to get lambasted for saying what I think, probably most by Mormons defending their faith, however this is only an opinion.

How, I ask you, is a Mormon going to keep his extremist religious beliefs out of state affairs? Like many religions the Mormons believe that their views are the only “right” ones and that everyone else is wrong and if you don’t follow their path you are surely going to hell. Well this strikes me as no better than leading the lambs to slaughter if Romney gets elected president. We might as well throw the church and state policy that Jefferson and John Locke supported and brought into the United States consciousness right out the window. It is one thing to be a Governor of one state, it is an entirely different issue to be the Commander in Chief of the United States. You have to be open minded and you also have to be able to embrace all nationalities, all religions, all genders and all people poor and wealthy alike. Romney is not a good fit. I truly understand that Mormons love to convert people of all nations, hell they put the M in missionary. One has to wonder about how they feel about people that don’t want to convert to their zealotry.

Probably one of the most disturbing ideas that I can’t get out of my head is the way the Mormon men reflect on their women. Women are no better than chattel and breeding factories. They certainly don’t hold an equal status in a marriage. The whole polygamy thing is a disturbing issue in and of itself. Yes, of course they have laws against that now, thank goodness, however the men thought nothing of taking as many wives as they could get and used the excuse that the men were being killed off and there were more men to women so it was necessary to take more than one wife. That logic is simply disgusting. It’s an excuse for them to have sex with as many women as they want and for it to be deemed perfectly acceptable. Let’s not forget the excuse of making sure that the Mormon species survive by breeding and having 20 children with 5 different women. There are still some places in Utah and around the United States that practice polygamy in the name of Mormonism and against all constitutional laws.

I will not apologize for my beliefs to anyone. I am not the only one who feels this way. At one time I was baptized LDS, before I wised up and realised what a frightening, brainwashing, zealous religion it is. My great grandfather was a polygamist and I am, to this day, ashamed to admit that there are Mormons in my family lineage. Mitt Romney does NOT represent me as a Buddhist and certainly not as a woman and he never will. Just because I am Buddhist it does not mean that I don’t have an opinion.

Dalai Lama“All the world’s major religions, with their emphasis on love, compassion, patience, tolerance, and forgiveness can and do promote inner values. But the reality of the world today is that grounding ethics in religion is no longer adequate. This is why I am increasingly convinced that the time has come to find a way of thinking about spirituality and ethics beyond religion altogether.”

“The Beauty Of Gray” Live

If I told you he was your brother
We could reminisce
Then you would go about your day
If I said you ought to give him some of your water
You’d shake your canteen and walk awayThe perception that divides you from him
Is a lie
For some reason you never asked why
This is not a black and white world
You can’t afford to believe in your sideThis is not a black and white world
To be alive
I say that the colours must swirl
And I believe
That maybe today
We will all get to appreciateThe Beauty of Grey

If I told you she was your mother
We could analyze the situation and be gone
If I said you ought to give her
Some of your water
Your eyes would light up like the dawn
The perception that divides you from her
Is a lie
For some reason we never asked why
This is not a black and white world
You can’t afford to believe in your side

This is not a black and white world
To be alive
I say the colors must swirl
And I believe
That maybe today
We will all get to appreciate

“Freedom is never dear at any price. It is the breath of life. What would a man not pay for living?” ~Ghandi

For me this July 4th my celebration of freedom isn’t solely about my countries independence from an oppressor and liberation from a country that my ancestors fought so valiantly to escape. My celebration this July 4th is a celebration of my sobriety and freedom from a wicked evil oppressor far more vicious and damning. Many of my friends will be out partying tonight, many of my friends will be enjoying their 4th in a much different way than I intend upon enjoying my 4th. Thank Buddha that for the first time in many years I may actually remember what the fireworks looked like, I may recall the sound of rockets exploding in the sky. It’s going to be a fabulous 4th!

“If you get up one more time than you fall, you will make it through.” -Chinese Proverb

I am finally making an effort to return to college after a long hiatus. It feels really good to me to finally be getting back to the books to finish a degree that I should have had a long time ago. Being back in school I am reminded of the work that is involved and I am reminded of how hard I have to work. I have done very well in school in the past and now I only hope that I haven’t been away from academia so long that I have forgotten how to study, how to write proper papers and how to put the extra effort out there. Sometimes it feels a little overwhelming! I am reminded of the time I went tubing behind a boat and nearly drowned, but I finally let go of the inner tube and was alright. School can be a little like that, I just need to relax and let go a little and it will come to me.

If you go to California’sYosemite National Park this month, you might get the chance to witness a reddish gold waterfall. Here’s how: At sunset, gaze up at the sheer east face of the rock formation known as El Capitan. There you will see what seems to be a vertical river of fire, also known as Horsetail Fall. I nominate this marvel to be your inspirational symbol for the coming weeks. According to my reading of the astrological omens, you will have the power to blend fire and water in novel ways. I encourage you to look at the photo here — here — and imprint the image on your mind’s eye. It will help unleash the subconscious forces you’ll need to pull off your own natural wonder.

My horoscope for the week! Boy was last week ever wrong. I thought I was going to be doing something and the complete opposite happened. Maybe this week will be different. I could use a little water to put out the fire that has been burning in my psyche for the past week!

Yesterday I went for my evening walk and it was already dark when I came to the water wheel on Indian creek and could not believe my eyes! I thought I was surely seeing things, but no, standing right in the river was a beautiful sand hill crane. They are very common here but I had never seen one this close before and certainly never after sunset in the river. It was really magical, he stood there for a few minutes before launching into flight but I got a real good look at this beautiful bird and when he took flight the wing span was huge. Watching him was for me a beautiful experience, I have always wanted to see one up close and it seems last night I got my wish, what a beautiful gift!

Perception shapes in countless forms. The longing for attention, affection and connection are the same; only the intensity of giving and receiving it differs. All is connected even when seemingly disconnected.